Australians should be outraged – but definitely not relieved – at the scandal rocking world soccer.

As English Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea prepare for landmark games in Sydney, the code here has once again been dragged into the mire following the arrests of senior FIFA officials and a new investigation into bidding for the World Cup tournaments in 2018 and 2022.

Now is the time for Australian football officials, businesspeople and politicians to reveal to the US and Swiss authorities all they know about allegations that Australia curried favour for votes from members of FIFA's executive committee.

Australian taxpayers lost almost $46 million for our failed 2022 bid. Not all that money has been accounted for.

Swiss authorities have begun "criminal proceedings against persons unknown on suspicion of criminal mismanagement and of money laundering" over the 2018 and 2022...

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-editorial/fifa-scandal-sepp-blatter-must-go-australia-must-come-clean-20150528-ghbazo

The comments fit a general trend here for vilifying the US, and demonstrate a conviction that consideration of Russia dominates global decision-making.

But Vladimir Putin's tirade also hints at genuine concern over the tournament's future.

This week, two prominent US senators urged Fifa against re-electing Mr Blatter as its head, because he continued to back Russia's right to stage the World Cup.

Acting as host was a privilege and a boost for Vladimir Putin "at a time when his actions should be condemned," John McCain and Robert Menendez argued.

Those actions include last year's annexation of Crimea and ongoing Russian support for rebel fighters in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow denies sending troops and weapons across the border, despite mounting evidence to the contrary.

A previous appeal asked Fifa to ban Russia from hosting the international event, but Mr Blatter has vowed repeatedly that politics would not "get in the way" of football.

read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32925637

Putin may not be far off the mark in his comments about a "conspiracy" against Russia, 2018, considering that:

English Football Association chairman Greg Dyke has said England would support a possible boycott of the 2018 World Cup if Sepp Blatter is re-elected president of FIFA.

But his Dutch counterpart, Michael van Praag, said his federation had never discussed a boycott.

Dyke, speaking to BBC radio before Friday's presidential vote in Zurich, said England would not go it alone but would consider joining a wider European boycott.

"If the whole of UEFA said that, and all of the countries were willing to do it I think that is right," Dyke said.

"There is no point in one or two countries saying we are not going to take part because they will carry on with the tournament without them and that is then pretty unfair on the fans.

"But if UEFA as a group said 'look unless we get this sorted we are not going to be in the World Cup' then I think we would join them."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-29/english-fa-would-support-world-cup-boycott/6508216

"Australia had no chance. Not a chance. Never."

These words were uttered by disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter late last year as he had lunch with former Football Federation Australia (FFA) executive Bonita Mersiades in Zurich.

He was talking of course about Australia's bid for the 2022 Football World Cup. The revelations are contained in Ms Mersiades' new book, Whatever It Takes: The Inside Story of the FIFA Way, which was launched to a packed room opposite the Houses of Parliament in London overnight.

It would have been nice if the Australian Government had known Blatter's true thoughts in 2008 before it committed $46 million of taxpayers' money to the bid. 

At least some of that money is alleged to have been used to help buy votes during a corrupt bid process. FIFA investigator Michael Garcia found there was "significant evidence" that Australia tried to influence voting through improper payments.

The reason Australia was never going to win?

"You never had a chance because you were never going to be competitive for the broadcasters," according to Mr Blatter, as quoted in Whatever It Takes. 

"Not the time zone, not the money. It is obvious. We have to make enough money at the World Cup for the next four years and Australia wouldn't be able to do it."

Read more:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-25/australia-world-cup-bid-never-had-...

And did we mention not enough payola under the table?... Read from top...